Welcome to PROFILES IN COURAGE, a series of articles profiling the courage and honor from some of the many Wounded Heroes that Road 2 Recovery has come in contact with. It is an honor and privilege to have worked with these brave men and women who have been severely wounded and had to overcame both mental and physical injuries. They have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom.
This week’s special edition profile features someone who took part in the first ever Road 2 Recovery event and is the exact image of what you would hope your son or daughter could grow up to be, We hope you read this story and remember what makes America great.
One of the greatest characters in the comics is Captain America. Captain America had superhuman power and saved the US from any evil. Meet a real life version: Kent Solheim.
On July 27, 2007, Captain Kent Solheim, participated in an operation designed to capture a senior leader of the infamous Mahdi Army (High Value Target) in the city of Karbala, Iraq.
Solheim’s team “fast roped” from helicopters into the area. The insurgents attacked the American forces from three sides with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s.
With the insurgents targeting one of the American positions, Solheim aggressively maneuvered his men to reinforce the beleaguered soldiers. It was then that he noticed an insurgent armed with an RPG, less than ten meters away from his position. Disregarding any concern for himself, he bravely charged forward, shot and killed the insurgent, saving the Americans in the nick of time.
Realizing that the US forces in the building were in grave danger, Solheim exposed himself to enemy fire in order to gain a better position to cover the other soldiers in his unit. From this location, he managed to limit the insurgent fire on his team. In the final moments of the engagement he rounded a corner and he found himself face to face with an AK-47-wielding Mahdi fighter. Solheim made a split second decision, firing at and killing the insurgent. However, as the terrorist fell to the ground fatally wounded, he let loose one last burst from his AK-47, which wounded Solheim in the legs and back.
Solheim with Ferris Butler
Despite being wounded in both legs and his back, Solheim shot three enemy soldiers in the encounter and his actions earned him the Silver Star. He has also been awarded a Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Thanks to Captain Solheim’s heroic actions, dozens of American lives were saved.
On the way to Lowes Motor Speedway
Solheim suffered severe nerve damage to his right leg that made him wheelchair bound. Solheim was not one to sit still and once fitted with a special brace, he decided that cycling would be a great way to get back in shape and realize his goal of going back on active duty. Initially using a special crank adapter to allow him to pedal smoothly, Solheim was soon able to regain enough range of motion to allow him to join the R2R Challenge last May that finished with a lap around Lowes Motor Speedway prior to the Coca-Cola 600.
Capt. America made it back to Bragg and was assigned to Headquarters Company, Support Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, where he served as the company commander.
Riding with Mike McNaughton
He was very happy to be back riding on a regular basis and enjoying being able to use his knowledge and experience to help those that will follow him to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today, March 2, Solheim, promoted to Major last week, will have his leg amputated below the knee at Walter Reed due to pain and loss of function from his encounter more than 17 months after that mission on July 27. While he will be out of action while undergoing rehab, he knows that he will be back in action soon and is already talking about going for a bike ride. In fact, he brought his bike in the truck of his car waiting for the day he gets to ride.
Despite this temporary setback, he plans to participate in the Road 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge in May from Washington DC to Virginia Beach. The ride will end with a concert by American Idol winner David Cook.
In the comics, Captain America was the alter ego of Steve Rogers, a sickly young man who was enhanced to the peak of perfection. In real life, Capt. Solheim, now Major Solheim, will be enhanced back to perfection with a new limb.
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